Astros: Three bold predictions for the regular season

As the regular season begins on April 1, the Houston Astros are still dealing with injuries to pitchers, relying on prospect for depth and looking at a shell of a Word Series team. Although this team won’t look fully complete until June, there is still a lot to be excited about.

While being the frontrunner for the American League West, there are always bold predictions to make about a team that has a high ceiling. With a fully healthy squad, this Astros team could make a deep run into the postseason, while the future of expiring contracts are still a question mark to be answered.

In 162 games, here are three bold predictions for the Houston Astros.

There are a few banged up players entering the 2021 season, and while not having an exact timetable on most of them, the Astros have been a team of progression. We have seen this in the past five seasons, especially with the postseason in 2020.

With the goal always being the last team standing, Houston might be looking at their final season with that in mind. As the contracts of Zack Greinke, Carlos Correa, Justin Verlander and Yuli Gurriel are coming to a close, next offseason might bring in a new wave of Astros’ players.

1. The Astros will have the best lineup by October

As Yordan Alvarez makes his return to the Astros’ lineup, after only playing in two games in 2020, my first bold prediction will be that the team finishes as the best lineup in baseball. With a healthy Jose Altuve, Alex Bregman and Carlos Correa entering 2021, you can’t expect these guys to be battling the same injuries and internal demons this season.

There have been countless reasons to why the the sign stealing scandal didn’t benefit these players, and to make it even better, only four players in the lineup were on the 2017 team. As the hate can be used as full, the team is sending out four All-Star players, while two others are due to receive votes in Alvarez and Kyle Tucker. While balancing a good set of right-handed and left-handed bats, MLB.com currently has the Astros listed as the sixth best lineup in baseball. If they hit to their potential, they are due for a big offensive season.

2. The rotation will be top ten in baseball

While Josh James, Austin Pruitt, Jake Odorizzi, Andre Scrubb and Pedro Baez will have delayed starts to the 2021 season, the depth and help is on its way to the pitching group that used to hold former Cy Young candidates. As the Astros enter Opening Day with three prospects in their bullpen/rotation, my second bold prediction is that the pitching will find itself and all work out.

As James is slated to return in June, the right-hander is working back from hip surgery. While Scrubb, Baez and Odorizzi are still aiming to make their 2021 debuts sometime in April, Baez will need a 40-man roster spot to hold when he is ready. Lastly, Valdez has some good news, but we don’t have a timetable just yet.

Pruitt is another name aiming for an early summer return, as he hasn’t made his Astros’ debut yet. With all these in mind, the Astros’ rotation could look like Zack Greinke, Valdez, Lance McCuller Jr., Odorizzi and Jose Urquidy. While the bullpen is  stacked with depth, the options include Cristian Javier, Brooks Raley, Pedro Baez, Joe Smith, Ryan Pressly, Ryne Stanek, Josh James and Austin Pruitt with Enoli Paredes, Andre Scrubb, Blake Taylor, Luis Garcia, Brandon Bielak and Bryan Abreu still having minor league options. This rotation is easily top ten in baseball.

Once everyone is healthy, it is a good issues to have, as the Astros could possibly make some deals at the deadline. To make matters even more interesting, Justin Verlander is aiming to be a reliever in October, but that’s something to take with a grain of salt.